indifference

American  

[in-dif-er-uhns, -dif-ruhns] / ɪnˈdɪf ər əns, -ˈdɪf rəns /

noun

1. lack of interest or concern.

   We were shocked by their indifference toward poverty.

   Antonyms:

   responsiveness, eagerness

2. unimportance; little or no concern.

   Whether or not to attend the party is a matter of indifference to him.

3. the quality or condition of being indifferent.

4. mediocre quality; mediocrity.

5. Baseball. the absence of effort by the defense to prevent a stolen base.

   For the second time this inning, a Brewer has taken second base on indifference.

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indifference British  

/ ɪnˈdɪfrəns, -fərəns /

noun

1. the fact or state of being indifferent; lack of care or concern

2. lack of quality; mediocrity

3. lack of importance; insignificance

4. See principle of indifference

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Related Words

Indifference, unconcern, listlessness, apathy, insensibility all imply lack of feeling. Indifference denotes an absence of feeling or interest; unconcern, an absence of concern or solicitude, a calm or cool indifference in the face of what might be expected to cause uneasiness or apprehension; listlessness, an absence of inclination or interest, a languid indifference to what is going on about one; apathy, a profound intellectual and emotional indifference suggestive of faculties either naturally sluggish or dulled by emotional disturbance, mental illness, or prolonged sickness; insensibility, an absence of capacity for feeling or of susceptibility to emotional influences.

Other Word Forms

• superindifference
  noun

Etymology

Origin of indifference

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, variant of indifferency, from Latin indifferentia; see origin at indifferent, -ence, -ency

Explanation

Indifference is the trait of lacking interest or enthusiasm in things. When you feel indifference for something, you neither like it nor dislike it. If you are a person who feels a lot of indifference, you probably say "eh," a lot. You just don't care much. Indifference can be compared to apathy, which means "lack of concern," though apathy is a little stronger: Apathy means you don't care whether your friends call you; indifference means you don't care what movie you end up seeing — you don't have a strong preference for any of the choices.

Example Sentences

But the ICE raids and the council’s indifference to residents angered Becerra, who looks every bit the profe with a perfectly shaved head and tortoise shell glasses.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Philosopher Timothy McGrew then observes that Mr. Dawkins “has famously said that ‘the universe has at bottom just those properties one would expect if there were no design, no purpose, only blind pitiless indifference.’

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

An investigation into an "alleged incident of inappropriate behaviour by one of the senior leaders" subsequently found "a culture of indifference towards safeguarding" at the church.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Consumer resistance — or indifference — to AI slop, however, suggests that people still seek in entertainment some emotional or intellectual connection with human creators, which AI may be unable to replicate.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

Michael Donovan brushed down his red hair with a violent motion of his hand and a total indifference to the fact that the unruly mass sprang to attention again immediately.

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov

Related Words

• alienation
• apathy
• callousness
• carelessness
• disdain
• disinterest
• disregard
• inattention
• inertia
• insensitivity
• lack
• negligence
• nonchalance